Star Spotlight: Cameron Monaghan

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Cameron Monaghan in the Star Spotlight

At just 20 years old, Cameron Monaghan took Sundance 2014 by storm as one of the 10 most talked-about actors with films showing at the festival. Learn more about this talented actor as he steps into our Star Spotlight!

Vital stats

Birthday — Aug. 16, 1993

Astrological sign — Leo

Hometown — Boca Raton, Florida

Height — 5 feet 10 inches

Family — Mom is Diane Monaghan

Hobbies — Sandboarding, guitar, working out

Probably most well-known for playing Ian Gallagher in Showtime's Shameless, Cameron Monaghan got his big break playing Winthrop Paroo in 2003's The Music Man with Kristin Chenoweth and Matthew Broderick. With three films set to release this year, Monaghan is taking Hollywood by storm.

Monaghan was cast in The Music Man when he was just 8 years old. The musical's director, Jeff Bleckner, told the Sun-Sentinel that he knew Monaghan was a star just by watching the videotaped audition he submitted.

"There are some people, when you put them up on film, they sort of pop off the screen at you. That's how it was with Cameron. From the second we saw him, he was it. We were looking for anybody who had that wonderful appeal," said Bleckner.

After playing the iconic role of Winthrop, a role that was also played by Ron Howard back in 1962, Monaghan hasn't looked back. He gets the opportunity to act with Meryl Streep in the upcoming film The Giver, also starring Taylor Swift, Katie Holmes and Jeff Bridges. The film takes place in what appears to be a utopian society until a 12-year-old boy uncovers a dark secret.

Monaghan also stars in the supernatural indie film Jamie Marks is Dead, which just premiered at Sundance, making for a very exciting time in the young actor's career. With ginger hair and a face full of freckles, Monaghan is arresting on the big and small screen.

Next, the Shameless thespian gets to play Mason Ashford in the new film Vampire Academy, opposite the raven-haired Zoey Deutch. Deutch plays Rose Hathaway, a Dhampir, or creature that is half-human and half-vampire. The film of fangs and fighting releases just in time to make a Valentine's Day treat.